surgeon simulator experience reality vr eye transplant

SURGEON SIMULATOR EXPERIENCE REALITY VR EYE TRANSPLANT TRIAL

And when it comes to adopting a new surgical procedure, how can we ensure that the expertise is best accomplished in a short period of time? In the last two decades, a number of novel vitreoretinal surgical procedures have been introduced, including retinal translocation, retinal chip implantation, retinal pigment epithelium transplantation, and, more recently, subretinal gene therapy. It is never too late to learn something new. This Perspective article describes the unique advantages and technologic challenges that practice on VR simulators has to offer, and the experience of Archway physicians with VR technology as a first in any ophthalmic clinical trial. Besides the primary use of traditional training tools, physicians participating in Archway have an option to practice in computer-simulated environments provided by VR simulators before performing their first PDS implant insertion and refill-exchange procedures on patients. Virtual reality (VR) as a training tool has long been used by the aeronautic industry and more recently adapted for physician training in medicine and surgery, with encouraging results. Preoperative practice for the PDS implant insertion and refill-exchange procedures is therefore critical for achieving optimal surgical outcomes.

The insertion of the PDS implant into the vitreous cavity and subsequent refill-exchange of the drug require procedural skills that are not directly transferable from everyday experience for most eye surgeons today.

SURGEON SIMULATOR EXPERIENCE REALITY VR EYE TRANSPLANT TRIAL

The phase 2 Ladder trial (NCT02510794) tested the efficacy of three customized formulations of ranibizumab in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration, and the phase 3 Archway trial (NCT03677934) will further assess the safety and efficacy of PDS 100 mg/mL with fixed 24-week refills. The Port Delivery System with ranibizumab (PDS) is an innovative, investigational drug delivery system designed for continuous delivery of ranibizumab into the vitreous to maintain therapeutic drug concentrations for extended durations.

Surgeon simulator experience reality vr eye transplant